Left to right, Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Senate President, listens as Gov. Martin O'Malley has a private word with him. On right is Michael E. Busch, House Speaker. They are signing bills into law in the Governor's reception room.

Left to right, Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., Senate President, listens as Gov. Martin O'Malley has a private word with him. On right is Michael E. Busch, House Speaker. They are signing bills into law in the Governor's reception room. (Kim Hairston, Baltimore Sun)

Democratic representatives back row from left are: Michael A. McDermott; Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., and Rudolph C. Cane. Democratic representatives front row from left are: John W.E. Cluster, Jr. and Dan K. Morhaim.Today is the last day of the Maryland Legislature.

Democratic representatives back row from left are: Michael A. McDermott; Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., and Rudolph C. Cane. Democratic representatives front row from left are: John W.E. Cluster, Jr. and Dan K. Morhaim.Today is the last day of the Maryland Legislature. (Algerina Perna, Baltimore Sun)

The bill would let incumbent officeholders and candidates use their campaign funds to pay for the travel, lodging, meal and registration costs of conferences focused on policy issues related to the office they hold or are seeking. Candidates now are restricted to spending such money for campaign expenses or publication of a legislative newsletter.

For Teresa DeShields, the 75-cent-an-hour increase in the state's minimum wage that takes effect Thursday means she'll finally be able to afford a phone line in her Cedonia home to stay in touch with her family in Delaware.

Advocates for programs spending state dollars on stem cell research or investment in technology companies were nervous about what Gov. Larry Hogan's budget would hold for them, given warnings of "strong medicine" to cure fiscal woes.

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan pledged bipartisanship and offered a conciliatory tone during his snowy inauguration Wednesday, promising "to create an environment of trust and cooperation, where the best ideas rise to the top based on upon their merit."